MAJOR WIN FOR LA RIOJANA AT THE CO-OPERATIVE SUPPLIER AWARDS 2014

Argentina's leading Fairtrade wine producer, La Riojana co-operative is toasting great success after receiving a "Highly Commended" award in one of the most highly contested award categories at the prestigious The Co-operative Retail Trading Group (CRTG) Supplier Awards Charity dinner held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex on Thursday 2nd October 2014.

La Riojana was one of over 20 leading companies in the food and drinks industry, including Coca Cola Enterprises and Unilever, to be nominated for the final award of the evening which was given to the best "Own Brand Initiative linked to The Co-operative Group Purpose", in recognition of an own-brand product which best reflects The Co-operative Group's purpose and values.

Whilst the overall winner for this award was The One Brand for The Co-operative Fairbourne Springs own-brand water, La Riojana was given a "Highly Commended" award for this category. This was awarded in recognition of La Riojana's outstanding achievements through the sales of The Co-operative's own-brand Argentine Fairtrade wines, in particular the funding of a new secondary school and the incredible impact it is having on La Riojana's local communities in Argentina.

Ed Robinson, Fairtrade Wine Buyer for The Co-operative commented on the award: "The relationship which has been built up over the years between the Co-operative and La Riojana is tremendous – the perfect marriage of great-quality wines and meaningful, large-scale community projects which really make a positive difference to the lives of the producers involved. The energy and drive that La Riojana has put behind its community projects is astounding and a wonderful example of what can be achieved – this award is richly deserved. Congratulations!"

DELICIOUS MAGAZINE DECLARES ECOLOGICA AND TILIMUQUI AMONG TOP 3 RED WINES IN BEST FAIRTRADE RED WINE COMPETITION 2014

La Riojana co-operative is celebrating recent success in a Fairtrade wine tasting competition held in Holland, with two wines from La Riojana winning two of the top three awards.

Earlier this month, the Dutch publication, Delicious Magazine, published the results of its Best Fairtrade Red Wine Competition, where a total of 25 Fairtrade certified red wines from Argentina, Chile and South Africa were judged blind by the renowned Dutch viticulturist Ellen Dekkers.

La Riojana's Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Fairtrade Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Bonarda was declared as the Best Tested Fairtrade Red Wine in the competition, along with Koopmanskloof Cabernet Sauvignon.

In addition to this, La Riojana's Ecologica Fairtrade Organic Shiraz Malbec 2014 was declared as the Fairtrade Favourite Red wine in the competition.

La Riojana's export director, Walter Carol, commented "What a fantastic result for La Riojana. Receiving accolades like these not only help highlight the quality of these two wines but they also help position our Tilimuqui and Ecologica brands as two of the best quality Fairtrade certified wine brands available in today's market. "

NEW FAIRTRADE ARGENTINE ROSÉ ADDED TO TILIMUQUI RANGE IN WAITROSE

Argentina's largest Fairtrade wine producer, La Riojana, is adding to its range of Fairtrade wines with this month's launch of its Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Fairtrade MalbecRosé 2014, which is available online at www.waitrosecellar.com and from selected Waitrose stores.

Tilimuqui Fairtrade Malbec Rosé 2014 (12.5%) is produced from 100% Malbec grapes grown in the Famatina Valley, Argentina. The wine itself is described by La Riojana's chief winemaker, Rodolfo Griguol, as light bodied, fresh, and fruitywith strawberry and raspberry aromas andan attractive salmon pink colour.

Griguol also likens his Rosé wine to a Provence style Rosé, something that has been influenced by the French flying winemaker Jean Paul Roger, who spent six weeks ofthe 2014 vintage working with Griguol at La Riojana's winery in Chilecito to help create a Rosé style perfect for the European market.

Tilimuqui Fairtrade Malbec Rosé (rrp £7.99) will join La Riojana's two other Fairtrade certified wines already available in Waitrose; Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Fairtrade Organic Torrontés and Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Fairtrade Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Bonarda.

2014 VINTAGE UPDATE FROM LA RIOJANA'S CHIEF WINEMAKER RODOLFO GRIGUOL

Despite the news that Argentina's 2014 harvest is down by 20% due to heavy rain and low temperatures in February, it is important to point out that this news does not apply to all of Argentina. 
 
In La Rioja province we have been fortunate not to be affected by late frosts and in fact production this year for La Riojana co-operative is going to be 10 - 15% higher than last year. Although it's likely the alcohol will be half a degree lower than last vintage the overall quality of the 2014 harvest is looking excellent and we are delighted by the vibrant fruit character that our grapes are showing.  
 
The production and quality of grapes coming from our growers in Tupungato is the same as last year as this area was not affected by frosts either. The affected regions were the east of Mendoza and San Juan.